Timer



March 27, 1945. w, COREN 2,372,253

TIMER Filed Aug. 26, 1941 s sheets-sheet 1 AYS Mmh 27, 1945. I. w. mm; 2,372,253

TIMER Filed Aug. 26, 1941' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F Z! V m'o'o'o'o'no'mo mo f '5 @1 U n5 RESET Patented Mar. 27, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE pudend August 1211,5121: N0. 40am 50laims.

The present invention relates to circuit control apparatus, and is more particularly directed to an improved contro1 device for controlling the current flow and the making and breaking of the circuit at predetermined periodic intervals.

The invention disclosed herein is an improvement over the invention disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 2,086,995, and has for an object the provision of improved means under the control of a solenoid for effecting its engagement and disengagement with a driving means which drives a time control device that is adjustable to control the circuit at predetermined intervals whereby the controlled circuit may be completed or interrupted at variable predetermined inter- I vals, or selectively interrupted.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved control device which. may be automatically reset, whereby the completion or interruption of the circuit may herepeated in accordance with preset time intervals.

A further object is' the provision of a positive drive between the drive means and the time control device and the ability to stop and reset the time control device to zero position during its operation.

And a further object is the ability to reset the time control device to zero position without interrupting contactsand to continue for preset time. Other objects and advantages of the invention include the novel arrangements and combination oi elements as hereinafter described and claimed,

' ing the parts in their normal positions.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device as viewed from the other side of that shown in Figure 2. v

.Figure 6 is a plan sectional view taken substantially on line 6 l of Figure 4, illustrating the driving means of the timer mechanism.

Figure 7 is a detail view of the rockable arm and the spring-urged swingable arm carried Figure 8 is a schematic wiring diagram of the time control device.

Figure 9 is a rear elevation of a modified form 'or'device illustrating the drivingmeans oi the timer mechanism constantly engaged and disengageable under the contro1 of a solenoid.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary end elevation illustrating the three contact circuit control switch. Figure 11 is a schematic wiring diagram of the time control device illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. The invention is exemplified in preferred and modified forms, in which the wiring circuits are illustrated in Figs. 8 and 11.

Referring now to Fig. 8, the wiring circuit of the preferred form is shown in which a maintaining circuit switch i5 and five contact members l6, l1, l8, l9 and 20 are employed and arranged to form contacts A, B and 0. Contact A, which is normally closed, controls the current flow to the N. C. load, and contact-B controls the cur-' rent flow to the N. 0. load, while contact C controls the current flow to a solenoid 2| and motor means 22 which operates a timer mechanism 23 associated with the maintaining circuit switch l5, and which timer mechanism is adjustable for operating to open the maintaining cir-.

cult switch at predetermined intervals. For that purpose, the motor means 22 and solenoid 2| are connected in parallel by conductors 24 and 25,

and the parallel connected solenoid-and motor means are connected across terminals 28 and 2! ofa supply of electrical energy by a conductor 28 to the terminal 26 and a conductor 29 to the terminal 21.

The normally closed or N. C. load is connected with the supply of electrical energy, which has one side 39 connected to terminals 3| 'and and its other side 32 is connected to one side of the N. C. load and to terminal 2!. The other side 33 of the N. C. load is connected to a terminal 3! taining circuit switch I, which has its other contact member connected with a conductor 46 to contact 0, and a conductor 41 connects other contact member I! of contact C with conductor 29. Contact B has'its contact member I! con- .terminal I is connected to one side II of the normally open or N. '0. load, which has its other side ll connected to side 32 o! the line.

As thus is: described, it will be noted that after the timer mechanism 28 has been'preaet or adlusted for a predetei'mhied interval of travel, the I1 is actuated, which energiles nected with terminal 48 by a conductor 49, 'and the solenoid 2| and motor 22. The movement of the solenoid when energized, efiects engagement of the timer mechanism 23 with the motor means 22 to be driven thereby, and this movement of the solenoid operates mechanism which breaks the circuit through contact A and simultaneously connects the circuit through contacts B and C. This breaking of contact A and the making of contact B, disconnects the N. C. load and connects the N. 0. load by reason'of contact memhers I! and 18 of contact B being connected with terminals 3 I and 48 through the conductors 36 and 49, respectively. During this time, contact c is connected to the N. 0."load and the current flows through contact member i9 and conductors d! and 29 which is connected to conductor 25 and terminal 21; and through contact member 2d of contact and conductor 46 to one side of the maintaining circuit switch i5, which remains closed to complete the circuit through the stop preset interval, it efiects the opening of the maintaining circuit switch i to break the circuit through contact 0, which tie-energizes the motor 22 andsolenoid 2i and also breaks contact B to the v k N. 0. load and makes contact A to N. C. load.

Referring now, more particularly to Figs. 1 to 7; lnclusive,' of the preferred form, the'device comprises a substantially rectangular panel 55 on Y the back of which a small plate 56 is carried in spaced relation by means of spacers 5i, and on which plate, the motor 22 is mounted. The motor 22 is of the reduction gear type and drives a shaft 58 extending therefrom and journaled in I plate 56 and panel 55. Intermediate the plate 56 and panel 55, the shaft 58 has a ratchet wheel 59 secured thereto, whichis adapted to be engaged by a companion ratchet wheel 58 carried on the timer mechanism 23, and which ratchet wheel ed to in spaced relation with the front face of panel and provided with in'dlcia to provide an indicating dial.

The ratchet wheel 80 is normally out of engagement with the motor driven ratchet wheel 59; and

is engageable therewith by the rocking movement of the rocker arm 55 under the influence of the solenoid 2i, and when thus rocked, the spring 89.

the panel 55, is a shaft 8| which carries a pointer,

82 that is vertically directed under disc l1 and normally spaced from stop 89 but movable into engagementtherewith. This pointer 82 is engageable for movement against the stop 80 by a settable member 83 arranged to be carried at the periphery of disc ll and adjustably secured thereto by means of a thumb screw 84. The member 83 is provided with an inwardly directed reduced portion 85 which is engageable with the pointer 82 to rock the same against the stop at at Preset distances of travel of disc li and this rocking movement of the pointer 82 effects the rocking movement of shaft 8! which has a substantially Y-shaped member 86 fixed thereto. This Y- shaped member has one of its legs 81 formed as at 88 to extend into an opening 89 of a loosely mounted slidable member'SB carried on the rear has a gear wheel ti fixed thereto and are both I journaled on a stud shaft 52 carried at one end of a swingable arm 53 (Fig. 7) which is pivoted on the main timer shaft 54.- The swingable arm 53 I is carried adjacent a relatively long rocker arm 'ment of ratchet wheel with ratchet wheel. 59,

and formation 51 is connected to solenoid 2i fixed to panel 55. and which effects rocking movement of arm 55.

face of panel 55 and guided by a stud 9i extending through opening 89 and a stud 92 extending through an opening 93 of the slidable member. The other leg 95 of the Y-member 86 is formed to engage the top edge 90a of the slidable member 90 to'eflecta downward movement thereof and its release from a stop 95 which is normally engaged by a notch 96 provided in the slidable member. The leg 9 of the Y-member 86 has a relatively strong spring 9! fixed thereto, which has its other end anchored to panel 55 as at 98, and this spring 91 normally retains the Y-member 88 against a fixed stop 99 which is also fixed to the panel. The slidable member 9il has a relatively light spring I09 fixed thereto and which spring has its other end attached to a depending arm it! fixedly carried on a stud 32 secured to and extending inwardly of the panel 55. This spring it exerts The gear wheel 5] has a companion gear wheel H constantly in mesh therewith, and which gear wheel is carried on the pain timer shaft 54 and has a fhub'l'c' thatls fixed-to the main time! shaft v66 at 13.. The. gear wheel H has a coiled spring 14 fixed thereto at 15and1coiled-around hub 12 of gear wheel 'H 'and its other end isflxed; at 18 to ;plate 56,- .Thisspring 74 is arranged tube coiled during 'agcounterclockwisemovement of the main I timer shaft and to cause a clockwise movement of shaft- N 'durln'g its uncoiling movement.- This shatt. .5l i s journaled in and extends through I panelii and has acalibrated disc II fixed therea tension in one direction on the slidable member at to cause its sliding movement when the \Y-- member 88 is moved by the movement of the shaft '8! under the control of the timer mechanism 23 at the limit of its movement when the reduced portion of the settable member 83 on the-disc .11 engages the pointer 82; The slidable member carries a conically shaped fiber member I03 which is normally spaced from and adapted to ex- 4 of the slidable member so and the leg as is brought into engagement with the top edge 90a, which.

causes a slight downward movement of the slidable member SI and carries the notch 96 thereof outer engagement with the stop 95 and releases the slidable member to be impelled by its spring I which causes the conical fiber memher It: to break the contact in the maintaining circuit switch I5. This breaking of the contact of the maintaining circuit switch I occurs at the limit of movement of the preset time of travel of disc 11.

As above described, the solenoid 2i which is also carried on the back of the panel 55 is operatively connected to the formation 61 of the rocker arm 05 by means of a pin I04, and the movements of the rocker arm 65 under the influence cf the I solenoid also efiects a vertical sliding movement of a slide member I05 which is operatively attached to the rocker arm 05 as at I08. The side member I05 has a spring I01 fixed to its lowzr 11, inclusive, the device is shown as having the solenoid Ila in a position reverse to that shown in Fig. 4 of the preferred form, and i attached to the rocker arm 05:: at IMa. This position of the solenoid permits the timer mechanism 23a to be normalLv in engagement with the motor means 22a and disengaged therefrom when the solenoid is energized. With this arrangement of parts, the contacts A, B and C of the preferred form are eliminated and the maintaining circuit switch is employed, but is provided with an additional contact member which serves in the same capacity as contact B to the N. 0. load, as shown in the preferred form.

The circuit shown in Fig. 11 is arranged with a single manually manipulated start and rset end portion and to the depending arm HM, and

which spring has sufllcienttension to'restore the slide I05 and rocker arm 65 to their normal positions (Fig. 4). slide member I05 carries a rearwardly directed member I08 which has two spaced-apart downwardly dire-rted conical fiber members I09 and -I i0 whichare normally n spaced relation with the contacts and movable with slide member I05 so that member I09 wll extend between contact members I5 and I1 of contact A.

and member H0 is adapted to extend between contact members I0 and;I9 of contacts '3 and C, respectively. The members I09 and H0 serve 3 to break the circuit through contact A and make the circuit between contacts B and C upon a downward sliding movement of the-slide I05.

In the operation of the devre. the source oelectrical energy is attached to terminals 3| and 2'9 and the N. C. load '5 attached to term nals 26 and 34, while the N. 0. load is attached to terminals 39 and 26. The start switch 31 and the stop switch 02 may be in any remote pos tion, with the start switch attached to terminals 30 and 21 of the device and with the stop switch attached to one contact member of switch i5 and to terminal 00, which terminal is attached to terminal II through conductor 39.

When the start sw tch 31 is depressed momentarily, the solenoid 2I is energized which effects movement of rocker arm 65 and slide member I05 to cause fiber members I09 and IIO'to make contacts B and C to complete the circuit to the motor means 22 and drive disc 11 through ratchet wheels 59S0 and gears'6I-'-1I. This downward movement. of slide member I05 which break", contact' A and makes contacts B and C to complete the circuit retains the'so'enoid e ergized until the "timer mechan sm ha r ached it pre-' set position to break the current through the maintaining circuit switch I5. During the oporation ofthe' device, should it be found necessary to stop the device, the stop switch 42 is manually manipulated to break the circuit, whch deenergizes the soleno d .2I, and under the iniiuence of spring I01," slide member I05 is rstored to its normal position to break contact: 3

and C and make contact A: and -the restoring movement of slide member I05 simultaneouly restores rocker arm which carries ratchet wheel .60 out of engagement with the motor driven ratchet wheel 59,- When the stop switch 42 s actuated, the timer mechanism 23 is restored to zero position by reason of the de-meshin of ratchet wheels 59E0 and the unwindingmovement of the main timer shaft 04 and disc "under the influence of -spring 14.

In the modified form illustrated in Figs. 9 to switch, so that the device, when operated, must complete its operation before stopping, or when desired, it is only necessary to manipulate the switch which resets the device to full preset time.

Further, this arrangement permits of the resetting of the device during its ope ation to its pre. set time without interrupting the contacts whereby it may continue after such interruption for its preset time.

The maintaining circuit switch indicated as III is prov dedwith three contact members II2.

' III and Ill which form contacts D and E, with contact D normally closed and controlling the current flow to the N. C. load, and contact E normally open and controlling the current flow to the N. 0. load. Contact D has its contact member II3 connected to line a by a conductor H5,

and the other contact member II2 of contact D is connected to the N. C. load by a conductor H9. and is also connected to the motor 22a by a conductor H1, and a conductor II 8 c nnects the motor 22a with the other side 32:: of the line. A start and reset switch H9 is connected to the side 30a of the line by a conductor I20, and which switch I I9 is manually closed momentarily. wh ch' connects the c rcuit to energize the solenoid and effect movement of the rocker arm 55a with the ratchet wheel 50a thereon carried out of mesh with ratchet wheel 59a, which permits dial to return to normal or zero position (Fi 9) under the influence of spring 10a. The re ease of switch II9 breaks the circuit to the solenoid 2Ia which restores the rocker arm 65a and th's restoring movement of the rocker arm causes the ratchet wheel 00a to be brought into mesh with the ratchet wheel 59a and dr ven thereby to drive the dial-11a.

While the dial is being driven. the reduced end "a of the settable member 93a carried on the dial, will be brought'at the limit of its movement.

into engagement with the pointer 02a to rock the same and shaft 8Ia with the Y-shaped member 00a, and cause the release of slide member 901: for a spring-impelled movement under its spring I000 which carries the conical fiber member I09a between contact members II! and ill to break' contact D and make contact E of the maintaining circuit switch III. 1

When contact D is broken, it breaks the circuit to the motor 22a and to the N. C. load, and the v making 01' contact E connects the circuit to the.

N. 0. load or starting position. After the'slide member 90b has been released, it will remain in this released position until the start switch H9 is again actuated, which energizes the solenoid to cause the de-meshing oi ratchet wheels 80a and 59a which permits the return of dial 'lla to zero 85a from pointer 82a and permits the pointer and the Y-shaped member 86a.to be returned to on said disk Iorpredetermining the rotation of position. The return of dial Ila carries portion 1 normal position by spring 91c, and the end 8811 of Y-member 88c engages opening 89min the slide member 90b and restores the same with its notch 96a engaged with stop 95a. This return I movement of the slide member 90b carries the fiber member 103a away from contact members H3 and H4 which permits contact D to be closed and contactE to be broken. When in this position, the current in the circuit then flows to the N. C. load or starting position.

After the device has been set for a predetermined interval of travel, and thestarting switch H9 is actuated, the device-will then operate for the set duration of time, and should it be found necessary to stop or reset the device to zero starting position, the switch H9 is actuated'which on the return of said timing mechanism to said causes the solenoid to be energized to disengage the driving mechanism 23a from the motor 22a and the return of dial Tia to zero under the infiuence of spring 14a. During this return'movement of the dial 11a, the contacts D and E remain unchanged, so that the device will start immediately for the duration of time for which it has been set. In this manner, the device may be.

reset to zero position at any point of its travel.

While I have shown and described a preferred and modified embodiment of my invention, I do, not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I

l. A time limit relay comprising load circuit contacts operable between open and closed circuit positions, timing mechanism for controlling the operation 01 said-load circuit contacts between said positions, said timing mechanism including a graduated rotatable disk and a movable stop on said disk for predetermining the rotation of said disk, a motor for driving said timing mechanism, a driving transmission between said motor and said timing mechanism operable to connect and disconnect said motor and timing mechanism, a momentary contact type starting switch, an electromagnet in circuit with the starting switch for operating said transmission to disengage said timing mechanism from said motor when said starting switch is momentarily closed, means for returning said timing mechanism to starting or zero position when said timing mechanism is so disconnected from said motor, and means eilective upon the return of said timing mechanism to said position for energizing said motor to .drive said timing mechanism.

2. A time limit relay comprising load circuit contacts operable between open and closed circuit positions, timing mechanism for controlling the operation of said load circuit contacts between said positions, said timing mechanism including a graduated rotatable disk and a movable stop position for energizing said motor to drive said timing mechanism, whereby said switch may be used to start or reset the cycle of operation of the relay.

3. A time limit relay comprising load circuit contacts operable between open and closed circuit positions, means for operating 'said contacts, said means including asliding bar and a pivoted tripping lever, a rotatable disc for actuating said tripping lever, means for predetermining the rotation. of said disc to actuate said tripping lever, a motor, a gear mechanism driven by said motor for driving said disc, a pivoted lever carrying said gear mechanism and movable to swing said gear mechanism out of driven relation with said motor, an electromagnet for-actuating said pivoted lever, a starting switch for said-electromagnet,

the operation of said starting switch energizing said electromagnet to disconnect said gear mechanism from said motor and thereby disconnect said disc from its driven relation with said motor, and means to return said disc to starting position when it is disconnected from said motor.

4. In combination, a load circuit, a motor circuit and a solenoid circuit all connected in parallel to each other, a pair of-contac'ts adapted when closed to close said load circuit and said motor circuit, mechanism for actuating said contacts, timer mechanism foractuating' said contact actuating mechanism, a driving transmission between said timer mechanism and said motor, said timer mechanism actuating said contact actuating mechanism when driven a predetermined distance, a starting .switch in said solenoid circuit to energize said solenoid-the energization of said solenoid disconnecting said driving transmission between said motor and said timing mechanism, and means to return said timer mechanism to starting or zero position when so dis connected;

5. In combination, a load circuit, a motor circuit and a solenoid circuit-contacts adapted when closed to close said load circuit and said motor circuit, mechanism for actuating said contacts, timer mechanism for actuating said contact actuating mechanism, a, driving transmission between said timer mechanism and said motor, said timer mechanism actuating said' contact actuating mechanism when driven a predetermined dis tance, a starting switch in said solenoid circuit the energization of said driving transto energize said solenoid, said solenoid disconnecting mission between said motor and said timing mechanism, and means to return said timer mechanism to starting or zero position when so disconnected.

- LEWIS W. COREN. 

